Breathe Out (Just Breathe, #2)(119)

“No,” I admit. “Just visiting.”

“What was it like?” Brittany starts.

“What?” I reply.

“The dress. The movie premier?” She expands.

“Fun and interesting,” I offer with a smile.

“Why did you break up with him?” Leslie searches.

“Who?”

“Chris, silly.”

“Chris and I never dated,” I explain.

Brittany and Leslie don’t seem to understand. I explain how there are politics even in the entertainment industry and how Chris and I are just friends.

“So, Joe is your boyfriend,” Brittany states.

With a giggle, I answer, “No.”

“Just friends,” Joe adds with a wink meant for me, but the girls catch him and snicker.

Our conversation bounces between a wide variety of topics as we become reacquainted with each other. Brittany, who is now sixteen, is a cheerleader and loves to play the violin — she’s hoping to go to Juilliard next semester. Leslie is a little tomboy, playing a sport every season and ends up outside playing with the boys each day. Both girls are doing well in school and Martin and Celia seem to really love them.

During my visit, Brittany finds a moment to speak to me alone. “Emma?”

“Yes, Brittany?”

She nervously twists her shirt in her hands while monitoring the proximity of the others in the restaurant. “Can I ask you something?” she whispers.

“Of course,” I reply with curiosity.

“Do you really know gay people?” she hesitantly inquires.

“Yes,” I verify. “Many men and women. Why?”

“I think I’m gay,” she confesses, darting her eyes around the room to make sure no one heard her.

My arms stretch out, wrapping around her lovingly. I kiss the top of her head and then release her. “That won’t change their love for you,” I encourage.

“How do you know?” she asks tentatively.

“When you’ve been around enough people who aren’t,” I begin. “You can kind of sense it after a while . . . who is accepting and who isn’t.”

Brittany’s eyes beam more, full of confidence.

“And, I’ve got better gay-dar than Jared,” I share with a smile.

“Really?” she questions.

“Yep,” I laugh. “He thought Joe might have been gay when we first met him.”

Brittany looks over my shoulder and giggles. “Definitely not gay.”

“Nope,” I confirm.


“It’s obvious he into you,” she announces, covering her mouth quickly. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to make things weird between you two since you’re friends.”

“Don’t worry,” I soothe with a smile. “That won’t happen.”

“I’m pretty sure Leslie is into guys,” Brittany adds like she wants to change the subject. But, I’m not completely sure.”

The two of us laugh when everyone else gathers closer.

Before Joe and I leave, the girls and I swap information and promise to make time for them to visit in the summer.





Ninety Four


I’m in better spirits when we return to the hotel. Who knew that reconnecting with some people from my past would have this effect on me? Contentedness fills my heart as I relax on the hotel bed and stare at the ceiling while I pet Sadie.

The sound of my phone ringing startles me. “Hey, Jared,” I greet warmly.

“I thought you wanted to keep a low profile,” he says oddly.

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re in the news again,” he announces.

“For what? I’ve barely been outside,” I challenge.

“They’ve seen you entering the hotel,” Jared shares. “There are pictures of you . . . with Joe.”

“What?!”

“Is there something you want to tell me?”

“I ran into Joe at the hotel. His family apparently owns it,” I explain. “He had a meeting and saw Sadie and me.”

“Oh,” Jared replies. “That makes sense. Well, you’ll need to relocate. The news is right outside the hotel.”

“Shit. Are you kidding me?”

“Nope.”

“Damn it,” I exclaim. “Wait. What are they saying?” I grab the remote and flip through the channels until I see a picture of Joe and me wearing the same clothes we have on now. Pressing the volume button to make the television louder, my ears focus on what’s being said by the news anchor and ignore Jared.

“Sources confirm that Emma Peterson is in fact dating Joseph Covelli, Manhattanite Billionaire and one of New York’s most eligible bachelors. Looks like we now know the reason to why Emma isn’t dating Chris Cooper,” says the blonde, female news anchor.

“That, or was she cheating on Chris with Joseph Covelli the entire time,” say the other female news reporter.

“She did claim that she doesn’t date and Joe wouldn’t share anything during the recent event at Nathaniel’s,” the other news anchor adds.

“Fuck!” I yell, shutting off the television.

“Kitten?”